Ranunculus plant named ‘ABATLAUA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ‘ABATLAUA’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique combination of colors in the corolla, including greens and purples. The corolla has a rounded shape when it is fully open. The petals are uniquely rippled in texture. Plants are highly productive and flowers have an exceptionally long vase life. The new variety is a Ranunculus, normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABATLAUA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘PPBsfRS159.05’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘AB5’. The new variety was discovered in 2010 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2007 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the tuberous root of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABATLAUA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABATLAUA’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABATLAUA’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   1. Unique combination of green and purple colors in the corolla. -   2. Rounded shape of the corolla when it is fully open. -   3. Petals have a unique rippled texture. -   4. Exceptionally long vase life. -   5. High productivity.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABATLAUA’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABATLAUA’ differ in the following;

-   1. Flower color of the new variety is different.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABATLAUA’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABATLAUA’ differ in the following;

-   1. The pollen parent has a solid flower color. -   2. Flower shape of the new variety is different. -   3. Combination of colors in the corolla.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABATLAUA’ are comparable to the commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABOSHOSSI’, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/731,515, filed concurrently. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABATLAUA’ differs in the following:

-   1. Combination of colors in the corolla; ‘ABATLAUA’ has a corolla     which is shades of purple and green, corolla color of ‘ABOSHOSSI’ is     shades of red and green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABATLAUA’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABATLAUA’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.         -   Root description.—Tuberous roots. Quantity of tubers varies             significantly with age and environmental conditions. Colored             tan to white, not accurately measured with R.H.S. chart. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, semi-erect             vegetation.         -   Height to top flower.—45 to 50 cm.         -   Plant spread.—50 to 70 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a             basal rosette, with 1 or 2 lateral branches, each one of             which has a flower.         -   Length of lateral branches.—40 to 50 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.5 to 0.7 cm.         -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together,             forming a basal rosette.         -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.         -   Color of lateral branches.—Yellow Green (RHS 146C).         -   Aspect/angle of branches.—20° to 25°.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked             heterophyllia (significant variation in leaf shape, size and             arrangement on a same plant), Simple, biternate and ternate             leaves appear on the same plant, in relation to the degree             of development (young leaf and mature leaf) and their             position on the plant (basal leaf — leaf at the base of the             plant — and cauline leaf — leaf inserted at the nodes of the             floral stem).         -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young             leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 10             to 25 cm. Average Width: 10 to 20 cm. Overall Shape of             blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).             Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:             Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are             generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further             divided in 3 or more lobes. Apex: Rounded (young leaf);             Acute (mature leaf). Base: Rounded. Attachment: Base of the             plant. Margin: Crenate (young leaf); Dentate (mature leaf).             Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of             bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top             surface: Glossy. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf             internode length: The internodes are extremely close             together, forming a basal rosette. Color: Young foliage             upper side: Green (RHS 138A). Young foliage under side:             Green (RHS 138B). Mature foliage upper side: Green (RHS             137B). Mature foliage under side: Green (RHS 138B).             Venation: Type: Dichotomous; plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 146C). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 146C). Petiole: Petiole:             Long, tubular, rigid. Length: 12 to 18 cm. Diameter: 0.2 to             0.7 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color: Yellow Green             (RHS 146C).         -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems             (SL).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 15 to 20 cm.             Average Width: 10 to 15 cm. Overall Shape of blade:             Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity             of dissection: Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of             which is further divided in many deeply incised lobes. Apex:             Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment: Floral stems. Margin:             Dentate. Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture             of bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top             surface: Matte. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf             internode length: 3 to 4 cm. Color: foliage upper side:             Green (RHS 137B). foliage under side: Green (RHS 138B).             Venation: Type: Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 146C). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 146C). Petiole: Petiole:             Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 8 to 16 cm. Diameter:             0.3 to 0.5 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose. Color:             YellowGreen (RHS 146C). -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.         -   Vase life (cut flower).—15 to 20 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.         -   Number of flowers per plant.—9-12.         -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 0.5             to 1.0 cm. Diameter: 0.7 to 1.5 cm. Color: Green (RHS 137B)             at the center; Purple (RHS N79B) along the venations and             Yellow Green (RHS 145B) near the base. Slightly open bud             (OB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 0.7 to 1.0 cm.             Diameter: 1.6 to 2.0 cm. Color: Yellow Green (RHS 146C);             Purple (RHS N79B/N79C) near the margins.         -   Flower size (OF _(1.2)).—Diameter: 8 to 15 cm. Height: 2.5             to 3.5 cm.         -   Corolla (OF _(1.2)).—Round, regular, in the form of a             flattened sphere with slightly festooned edges. Petals:             Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very             tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable,             according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from             the exterior toward the center. The average size of fully             developed petal is as follows: Length: 4.0 to 5.5 cm. Width:             3.5 to 5.0 cm. Quantity: Double flower, petals are very             numerous approximately 120 to 180. Texture: Silky, thin,             resistant. Apex: Rounded. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire or             slightly Crenate to Sinuate. Aspect: Rhomboid, concave with             moderately reflexed apex when flower is fully opened. Color             when opening (CF): Upper surface: Purple (RHS N79C) near the             margin; Yellow Green (RHS 146C) from the center towards             base. Lower surface: Purple (RHS N79C) near the margin;             sub-marginal coloration near Red Purple (RHS 71A) and             towards base Yellow Green (RHS 146C). Color Fully opened             (OF₁): Upper surface (PU₁): Purple (RHS N79C) near the             margin; Sub-marginal coloration near Red-Purple 71A until             nearly center, center to base Yellow-Green 146C, base White             155D. Lower surface (PL₁): Purple (RHS N79C) near the margin             Sub-marginal coloration near Red-Purple 71A until nearly             center, center to base Yellow-Green 146C, base White 155D.             Other cultural improvements or features: In this variety,             the colors of the corolla could present a lack of Purple             tones and an increase of Green tones. This is already             noticeable in the flowers that are opening and is present in             those that are wide open (OF₂; PU₂. PL₂). This variation of             color, partially typical of this variety, is accentuated in             particular growing conditions, in relation to light             exposure, to the temperature and to the different             composition of fertilizers used by the various farms. Calyx             to Sepals (S): Quantity per flower: 6 to 8. Shape: Concave,             moderately incurved. Length: 2.5 to 3.5 cm. Width: 0.8 to             1.8 cm. Apex: Acute to Suboptuse. Base: Flat to Slightly             rounded. Margin: Entire; Dentate at the apex. Texture: Lower             surface is tomentose; Upper surface is glabrous. Color Upper             Surface: Green (RHS 138B). Color Lower Surface: Green (RHS             137B); Red Purple (RHS 71A) along venation.         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 35 to 45 cm. Diameter: 0.8 to 1.2 cm.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 146C). Orientation: Upright,             straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Transformed as petals.         -   Gynoecium.—The pistils are numerous, short, fused together             at the center of the corolla in a Strong Yellow Green (RHS             144B) and Purple (RHS N79B), irregular, dome-shaped             apocarpous gynoecium.         -   Nectar gland.—Absent. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.         -   Disease to pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus             has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance             not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled             greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates             temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABATLAUA’ as herein illustrated and described. 